The Sun. — London, England, 1826-03-21 00:00:00

Istenstef the Catholices in the way of education. It would be much better to leave each religion to its own clergy, and to poceed to the general purposes of education in such a manner as not to offend the peculiar tenets of any class. Ireland was essentially a religious nation, and had a strong disposition to ere airage scriptural reading, were it unconnected with sante /ism views. Mr. PEEL woultiSiie extremelyeorry if false inferences were d , awn from the adoptinn of this vote for the purpose of edu eation in Ireland. The real question was, first, under what Principle!' eduesition in that country should be superintended ; arid next, what was to be done with the existing establish : talents for thatpurpose, until better 'were faintedle.They. were - all 'Agreed, hc.aapprehended, that' the best system would be cue which worked under regular, permanent, and responsible Parliamnentary Commissioners. And as to the mode of education • to be pursued, fie was; he confessed, very much disposed to agree in the opinion of Dr. Murray, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, that Protestants and Catholics. Might he educated • toeether in one common school, provided each were left to re cove religious instruction from their own partienlar pastors. At the same time Dr. Murray very properly admitted, he saw s net objection to such it compiletion from the Scriptures for •chool purpose as would embody some of those great principles aid:their common faith, in which both Catholi cs and Protestants - ...indiscriminately concurred. This to him appeared the true ' • principle which they ought to end eavour to carr y into effect, And, leir only inquay - ought to be how it could best be done. • When, as to the existing institutions for pnrpoSes'of education, imperfect as they were, would it be politic to take away from them all support before better were established ? It became, therefore, necessary' to maintain them some time longer, unless a permanent injury were to be inflicted on the cause of edu scation in Ireland. lie had himself been secretary . in Ireland -when the Kildare-street Society was established—tntleed, he bad at that time himself drawn up a Bill to carry into effect it comprehensive System of education in that country under the superintendence of seven or eight able Commissioners ; and he • was -only diverted from his purpose by the opinion of other Uentlemen connected with Ireland, and who were his pond s, cal opponents, who dreaded the alarm that might be felt by. the people were their 'education to be managed by a Govern -soot Board. Finding, however, just at the moment a so , ciety formed which was composed. of persons of all religions • upon a comprehensive plan, the Government- bad thought • proper„to atelect - that society as the instrument for carry.- - • ,mg into effect the recommendation in the 14th Report of -- ties Commissioners -of Education, which would have been the object of •his Bill, had he pursued it. Now, Whatever objections might have arisen to the proceedings of this • society, it was on all hands admitted that it had diffused to a great extent useful-and valuable books among the community. Would it be wise, then, to. paralyze their efforts at the :present anotnene? The number- of scholars they educated might be overrated.; that there could •be no mistake in the intbrmation • they conveyed through. the spreading of valuable hooks ; but • e • tVt.ll as to the tirtment of scholars, take It at the Mini/Mtin of • -Roman Catholics menthmed, and at leuet to that amount they :•:`• ..uaust be admitted to have done good. The Right Hon. Gen. ' • tleasian then referred to the reports of the society respecting • a their circulation of books, and from these it appeared that in the -y ear tuie, they hail distributed of books, admitted upon all lianda to be unobjectionable, 110,000 copies ; in 1820, 123,000 ; in 1021, 163,000 ; in 11122, 105,000 ; in lien, 106,000 ; and in • the very last year, 172,1116. • In conclusion, he would implore - Honourable Members not to cast a stigma on i s society which bait done great service, which stigma he thought mimimet be implied by affirming the first of these resolutions. They were all in time House agreed upon the general Principle of education, but the affirmiog the reselutions would be construed differently out of doori, and would, he thought, be the source of divisions, which it would be extremely desirable to prevent. He did not know whether he correctly understood the It ight Hon- Gent. who spoke last, ie supposing him to have expressed a wish that edu cation should be given to the Rotnan Catholic children without religious intarticsion. It that were his (Mr. Al. Fitzgerald's) opiniou) he,could not concur in it. He had no wish to see, and .he hoped it never would be seen in this country, that religious' .instruction tiliould be omitted Nit' the education of youth. Ile had, no desire to see a set of young philosophers deriving their morality from any other than a religious basis. Neither Ilia he wish to see young ragged Irishmen walking through the country with Ciceros and Virgils under their arms, and ettelying those authors, when they might he more usefully engaged in acquiring an education more suited to their condi. Gm. Ile again begged that llon. Alembers would not press those resolutions to a division, for, if that were the case, he shad no alternative but to reject them, and he was extremely : .anxioue that there should not appear -to be any difference of .opinion on this subject. Mr. M. FITZ(SERALD, in explanation, said, that he was far from wishing to see the education of any elites in Ireland, or elsewhere, unaccompanied with religious instruction. All he fiad s wished for was, that though Catholic anti Protestant. chil. "then.should have their general education in common, their re . jigious instruction might be separate. Mr. PEEL--Then 1/r. Murray went farther than this; for he teas of opinion that selections might be made from the saved 'Scriptures which 'would answer children of Protestants and taitholies. • Sir .1. NEWPORT contended, that the affirming these reeo. 'lotions would not tend to cast any slur on the Kildare-street . 6)clety, because that institution professed not to imam with elie, religious opinions of the children. He thought it would be Isettee to affirm these resolutions, or at least the first of them, . Au(l4l4an go into the committee to ascertain what sum ought to ,be vote& The Right Hon. Baronet then proceeded to point end the great inconvenience which arose in some of the charity:. schools trent the went of a primer supply of books. A gentle. e •mn who .visited one of those schools found a volume of Rode. eick Random, used by one of the boys xis a school-book ; and pn inquiriu,why such me book was Allowed, was told that the t boys brought any book they could get, in which to learn to . read. With respect to the system of religious education, he etruld not see how any difficulty could arise, in allowing one day welt of the six for giving religious instruction to the children separately according to their respective creeds, and leaving theta on the other dart to receive general education iti common. Looking at the principle in this light, he could see no evil as likely to result from the adoption of the resolutions before the Ilouee. Mr. lIOULBURN said, that though they might all agree in the first or the resolutions, as an abstract proposition, yet the adoption of it at present would be injurious, as tending to cast a stigma on the Kildare-street Society. .Mr...ISI.II"VERWORTII said, that if the Bible was held tee be a bad husk, he thought it ought to be excluded front all schools; but if it was admitted to be a work of divine inspira tions it wait WO Ittuels to assert that my evil could arise to the • country from its introduction into any. "he Hon. Member then proceeded to read it long string of resolutions entered into by home Roman Cetholi schoolmasters in Armagh and Monaghan, in which they approved of the circulation of the Scriptures among old and young, 'without note or comment ; and men tioned the circulation of such Scriptures (the Roman Catholic version). by the Irish Society as one of the greatest boons riliab could be conflated on. Ireland. These, the Hon. Ahem. .her tulded, were also the sentiment of• the large portion of the poople of Inland, and tinder those circumstances he thought that every eneouregement should be given to those societies by wieleh the Scriptures were so circulated. It was, however, to be regretted, that the Irish Roman Catholic priests were op. posed to the introduction of the Scriptures without note or ,comment. The sacred Scriptures—he spoke chiefly of' the New Testamera—were quite plain and easily understood, and be thought they might be safely intrusted into • any hands .without .note or comment : and without them, it was the opinion of those best acquainted with Ireland f a strong moral fouling could not be . impressed on the people of that country. The want of a moral anti religious educa tion among the lower orders had been complained of by rimy of the judicial authorities in Ireland. Ile would meeting the instance of a 'learned Judge, who in his charge to the (iraumi Jury of Cork, complained of the general pre valenee.of crime, and said that he was tired of condemning persons for crimes, without producing any effect in deterring others from similar offence*: but he added, that he feared any sylftern of punishment would be ineffectual for that purpose. as , Xing as the moral and religioue instruction of the peasantry was neglected. In conclusion, the lion. Member observed, that 'ee was Aire the nation would never consent to any system of edu• zetion not founded upon religious instruction ; anti be therefore would protest agaitust time adoption of, those resolutions which would seem to disconnect the two. C. H. HUTCHINSON said, the lion. Gentleman who last spoke wholly misrepresented the nature of the resolutions belbre the house, and the observations of the lion. Member who sopported thews if he thought that it was intended t o disconnect edueetieu from a system of religious in struction.. There, was no objection on any side to re ligious instruction ; the only, objection was, to its being m a de st part of public education in Ireland, which it was riot ill langlend. Religions instruction was given at all the Public echools in la Engnd, but it was not part of the public education o f the pupils as one body. Each scholar was leveed to to be instructed in his own religious creed. This was all that ho end t hose Hon. Friends who supported the resolutions cordended for. Iset the Protestant and Catholic children receive their general cduottion in i common, but let their religious in. s etem of general education in - serection be separate. sy stem of general education in struction st'p..ma i other principle, would, he was sure, Ireland, Withal op anilonler Inc found ineereeieel, 1. he systetn of on which it was attempted to conduct education in many instances in Ire. lend. would not succeed, and to the Prevalence of that *Pk t_i_ein tined be traced the indisp osition of the Roman Ca, 14 "gles in so many eases to send their children to the public eeli s wll s lt was extremely unfair to cha r g e u p on the Roman 'sagtiolotas au indisposition to give their o uldren ,reltinous struction.. They had this instruction, and were in most eases better instructed in this respect than the children of ProtestantS. The Honourable Gentleman who spoke last seemed to lay some streiti on giving the Irish Bibles and Testaments in the Irish languige. Did he (Mr. Butterworth) know how many .in Ireland could read the Irish language ? Did he know the proportion which those who couldnot read the Irish bore to those who could ? If the Honourable Gentleman thought that the proportion of those who could read the Irish language was great, he was grossly and scandalously ignorant as to the condi tion of that country. The fact was, that not one in a thousand, or in ten thousand, in Ireland, mold read the Irish language though the proportion-of those who could read the English was nearly as great ea in England. The Irish language, though spoken in most parts or Ireland, was little known in print, and, indeed, there were very few books of it in existence. To talk. then, of circulating the Holy Scriptures in that language as n means of making the people better acquainted with them than 'they would be in giving them in English, was rank nonsense. As to the general education of the people, he would admit that a large body of them were vet in ignorance; but it was a most gross libel to charge that ignorance to the Roman Catholic Clergy. The ignorance winch existed was the effect of the long-continued •misgovernment of that country. Let Hon ourable Members bear in mind the length of time during which the penal code was in operation, under which it was made a penalty of death for a priest to teach. It was made highly penal for a Roman Catholic father to educate his child •at home in his own •religions principles, • and not less penal to send him to a foreign school for his education. It was a most scandalous libel on the people of Ireland to assert that there was no system of mor'al and religious education amongst the Roman Catholic peasantry of that kingdom; and it was wholly untrue that the Roman Catholic clergy denied the use of the Bible to their flocks ; they certainly did not wish it to be put into the hands of pereons of a certain time of life, without any notes or remarks to assist them in pro perly understanding and fully comprehending certain passages in it, but they desired that it should be accompanied with the comments 61 these who were most conspicuous for learn ing amongst the Catholics. If the Lion. Member was for ,having no education in Ireland but what was connected with religion, and fancied that he could work any good by such a proceeding, he would find himself grievously mistaken. Ile should like to know how this religious education could he given in the way desired by the Hon. Member, without greatly offending the clergy of Ireland. He was sure the Hon. Meat. her was .not aware of the difficulties he would have to Contend with if he attempted to interfere with the religion of Ireland. lie would find it no easy matter, by any side.wind or cunning artifice, to remove the attachment of the Catholics to their religion. Mr. SPRING RICE replied, hut declined pressing his amendment to a division : after which the original motion, that die Speaker do now leave the chair, having been put and agreed to, the House resolved itself into a • CO3l 31 I WEE OF SUPPLY. ' Mr. BA NK ES then moved that ii sum of 13,0921. be granted to his Majesty for defraying the expences of the-British 31u. scum for the year 10211: he observed that between 127,000 and 128,000. persons had visited the Museum lust year. Mr. HUM H complained of the Museum only . being open thr e days for the inspection of the public ; th is regulation often caused very greet inconvenience to individuals, which would be materially remedied if it were to be open four days in the week instead of three. Mr. BANKES wished the museum to be as accessible as possible to the public ; but it was necessary that one day in the week should be reserved for cleaning it, and two days more were required for the exclusive admittance.of students who lied occasion to examine the different specimens more in detail than the rest of the public. . . The motion was then put, and agreed to. PROTESTANT CHARTER. SCHOOLS. Mr. GOULBURN moved that time sum of 19000/. should be granted to the protestant charter schools in Ireland, without any fee or deduction whatsoever. Mr. J. S3IITH objected to the grant, on account of the abuses which prevailed in the management of those schools ; and he-thought the Bight Hon. .Gentleman ought not to call upon the House to sanction this grant, unless he would assure them that these abuses should be remedied. Mr. GOULBUBN said that the vote was now reduced in order to provide for the gradual reduction of the number of scholars, provision would also be made for the reform of the abuses. The Commissioners hod indeed found considerable difficulty in getting rid of flail, but it would he hard that the poor children should be turned adrift on this account. Prose cutions had already been Instituted, and were now pending against several of the musters, and lie conceived that the re. medy would be best effected by submitting the conduct of the offenders to the public tribunals of the country. Of course he • could not (as the lion. Member had called upon him to do) lie responsible for the good conduct of' all the schoolmasters in Ireland, but lie would pledge himself to exert all his vigilance in detecting and bringing to punishment all future misconduct in these individuals. Sir J. N KW PORT complained of the great inactivity of the local committees, and observed, that during a period of nine months, they had not made one single report to the committee of 1815. Although these reports were paid for, he did not see why the catechists should receive salaries for catechising the children of their respective parishes; he was not satisfied with the rate of the reduction which had been made, but he thought we ought to be relieved from this grant altogether, unless there was some likelihood of its being applied in u very different way to that in which it had been heretotore applied. It was in evi dence, that a gre.it number of these children had been impro perly kept back from being apprenticed out, in order that the masters might make a profit by their labours. The officers had also been guilty of great misconduct, and had been improperly concerned in contracts respecting die clothing of the children. It was now more than seven months since this House came •to its resolutions respecting these abuses, and still not one •single prosecution of any of die offenders had us yet been brought to a close. Ile could not, theretbre, feel any great confidence that these malpractices would he abolished, when he saw those who were charged with having perpetrated them still continued in office. . . . . . Mr. GOULBURN contended that most of the abuses had already been corrected, and that lie would- vouch that there should be no misapplicntion of the money now granted. As to delay with regard to the prosecutions, he must observe that the report haul not reached Ins•office until September. - • - • Mr. HUME said that this was a pretty specimen of the manner in which Ireland was governed, as also of the manner in which the extravagant grants for that country were applied. They were now called • upon to vote grants which amounted altogether to 371,0001. for Irish charities. The greater part of these charities were placed under authorities which Gove r n . anent had no me ans of controulllng, and thus it happened that die grant of - money to support them was, in general, a gross abuse of the tundit of the public. He complained that the Right Honourable Secretary opposite had greatly increas. ed the amount of these granti,' during the time he had held his present office. In 11122 the -aggragate of these votes was 322,01101., and it lied gone on increasing progressively from year to year, until it amounted at present to :171.0001. He wondered that the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( who before the close of the present year would find a want of money, of he I. Mr. Hume] was much mistaken) had not probed these charities to . the bottom. 'rise amount of money voted to the' charter schools in 1800, Wavtaken upon the average vote 'of the three years. preceding the Union. It was then 13,0001. In me g it hat! increased to i t t o d 2 c o4o l3 o e / a ; c( i ) n nsi l d tl e l r 3 ab t l o y 3 , ( Vtrit l lia i d n 1817 to 41,000/.; now raised itself' again to 19,0001. The aggregate amount Of the sums vot;td for these useless and mischievous schools, since die Union, was 732,3611/., independent 'of the funds which they derived front priVate estates.—which, by the bye, were so mismanagml, that they - did not produce more at present than they did in 1796, though every man's private estate had trebled i n va l ue since that time. Those funds amounted to 1113,0001.; so that altogether 9111,0001.' bail been spent in the 'course of 25 years upon these idle and tnirchievous charter-schools. Ile contended that the House ought not to lie content with the slow and tartly pace which the Government was proceeding to re duce them ; anti in order to accelerate the reduction of them, lie would suggeSt that the grant now proposed should be placed at the disposal of the Lord Lieutenant, ind not of. the commissioners. In conclusion, he objected very strongly to the grant 73M 9s. 2d. for law expellees. How could :such money be fairly expended in support of the Protestant charter schools ? • Mr. GOULBURN said, that any gentleman who would take the trouble of inspecting the papers, would see that he had not increased the amount of those grants since he had been in 'office. In point of fact, the vote of this year was less by 19,000/. than it was in the year when he first carne into office. Although there was apparently 'an increase in it, a large amount of had been reduced, -Which had formerly gone to th e 'support of these schools. The Hon. Member for Aberdeen had been guilty of a -curimis mistake in stating the amount of law expences at 730/. In truth, they were only 464 ; and the Lion. Member had mistaken the sum of money placed opposite to the repair of schools for the aunt placed op posite the next item—law expenses.--:(A laugh ) I%lr. lIUME observed; that he haul nothing to do with the local taxation which had been reduced, he was only speaking what was p a id by the public. He then recapitulated his for mer statementa and insisted upon their accuracy. . of ' Mr. MONCK could not see - why these schools should be provided , for out of th e public funds, - when similar schools in England and Scotland were provided for out of private funds. He would place a land-tax of • 6d. Or fttl. In the pound upon Irish landholders, for the purpose ofsupporting these charities; and be wapiti do this the - more readily, as the Irish gentry wercless burdened, by, taxes than the landaders of any other country. " After a few words from Mr. 0 nATTAx, in reprobation of the doctrine put forth by the tion. Member for Reading. Sir J 07 - IN NEWN )ILT moved as an amendment, that the money be issued to the Lord. Lieutenant, for the purpose of pro. viding for the maintenance of these children, with all u e- Bard to the future reduction of the estab hments themse Mr. BROGDEN doubted whether in conformity with the rule s of the Mut . e to his Majesty without any limitation as to the persons through whom they were to issue, and he did not know whether this amendment, if carried, would not be an infringement on the Royal prerogative. After some conversation on the subject, between Sir John Newport, Mr. Goulburn, and Mr. lirogden, the latter Gentle man put the amendment to the Committee. Mr. JOHN SMITH rose to support it. Conduct had been suffered to pass unnoticed in these schools, which had filled hint with disgust and abhorrence. There had been a, strange ink- Maria,freinent of their funds, and gross corruption on the part of one of the secretaries belonging to them. lie therefore thought that the House was called upon to mark the behavioui of the Commissioners. The amendment just proposed seemed to cast a reflection upon them, which they well deserved ; and for thiit reason he should give it his decided support. Mr. GOULBUBN said that the persons employed in these schools had undoubtedly misconducted themselves ; but con tended that those who had employed them had not participated in that misconduct. He was averse to passing sentence upon the Commissioners without giving them a fair trial, and for that reason he should certainly oppose the amendment proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet. Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, that as such was the determi nation of the Right Hon. Secretary, he was in his turn deter mined to take the sense of the Committee upon his amendment. Mr. C. HUTCHINSON supported the amendment. Mr. F. LEWIS defended the grant, and thought that the amendment was likely to retard the object which it professed to have in view. • After a few words fawn Sir John Newport, Mr. Butterworth, Mr. J. Smith, and Mr. C. B. Monck, the house divided, when the numbers appeared to be— For the original motion, 42 I Against it, 19 I Majority, 23. On our re-admission to the gallery, we found Mr. S. ItrcE objecting to the grant of 9,0001. for the Society for Discounte nancing Vice in Ireland. 111 r. 00151.11 URN supported the grant. Mr. HU:IIE said, that since the year 1001 this vote had in creased progressively from 4001. to the present amount. He, therefore moved as an amendment, that 3,430/, be substituted for the original vote. After a few words front Mr. Gordon, Mr. Goulhurn, and Mr. Hume, the gallery was cleared for a division, when the num bers appeared to he— For the amendment, 11 I Against it, 37 I Majority 2fi. On returning to the gallery we found Mr. I-lusts: proposing that the I louse should adjourn ; the hour of the night and the thinness of the House being unfitted for further discussion. Mr. GORDON said, if there were any hope that the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite would take the whole of the subject into consideration, he should be in favour of the proposition for agreeing to the votes in their present shape. - Mr. GOULBURN hoped the Hon. Member would allow the estimates to which he did not object to be voted, Mr. HUME persisted in opposing the voting .of the public money at that indecent time of eight ; and attern few words front Mr. GOULIIIIRN and Mr. eltoi(EN, The CIIAIRMAN reported progress, and asked leave to sit again. The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the House adjourned at ONE 01,;LOCK. LIST OF THE MINORITY On Sir J. Newport's 31otion against "the Chartered Schools of Ireland. Butterworth, J. Gordon, R. • Poyntz, W. S. Calcraft, .1. Hutchinson, lion. Rico, T. S. • Calthorpe, Hon. F. C. H. Smith, John Duncsnnon, Visct. Johnson, Col. Tierney, Fergusson, Sir R. Mouck, J. B. White, Colonel Fitzgerald, Ittlion. Newport, Rt. Hon. Wood, Alderman 111. Sir J. TET.T.EI2. , Grattan, J. Palmer, C. F. Hume, Joseph POLICE INTELLIGENCE. • • 111 ANSION-HOUSB. Yesterday James Gray, who stated himself to be a clerk to Wm. Grey, a solicitor, residing. in Broad-street, was charged, with having assaulted a female of respectable appearance, named Ann Moss. There were two examinations of this case, in which the complainant, who is a young woman of about 20 years of age, stated, that she had employed the defendant as her solicitor, to bring an action against a surgeon named 'Morris, who hail induced her to live with him upon a promise of marriage, and afterwards married another. She gave the . defendant her letters, and she understood from him that there was a good case upon which to proceed; but he had since riven up her letters to the attorney of her seducer, and in duced her to sign a paper, the effect of which she declared she did not understand at the time she signed it. He afterwards gave her 201., which he said was all the compensation which she was to expect. The Lour) Mairon, when the case was first heard, asked fur the production of these letters. I lis Lordship stated, that six of them manifested considerable affection, but did not make out tiny promise of marriage. The complainant said, there were eight letters which she de: livered to the defendant, and that two of the most important must have been withheld or destroyed. She admitted that'll() promise, in express terms, was made •in either of the letters, but the intention to marry was implied.. • She deposed, that on Saturday week she went to the defendant's othee, respecting • the business, with which she was not, of-course, satisfied, when there being no one besides herself there, he took indecent libertibs with her, and committed the assault complained of, which she au c resisted. atlt—. The ees I am as innocent as a baby, my Lord. She tl e l l y enci is a common prostitute. The 14081; MAYQU said, he saw no ground for such an ac., cusation, either in the letters of the young man, against whom. the defendant had been instructed to proceed, or in her present conduct. A female of respectable appearance, who stated that she was a married woman, here said, that the complainant's seducer had brought her to the witness's house us his wife. She had lived with him in that character fora considerable time, and the af fection which she displayed for him, and her general conduct, confirmed his representation. This witness said, she was pre sent when what was called ‘, the release" was given. She was convinced that the complainant was not aware of its effects. • It Was, she represented, obtained by violence, which amounted to an assault. _ _ The defendant declared that the charge was as false as 11-1; he had got the complainant 21.4. tbr what did not deserve t:tld. The Loitp 31AvoIt.--Why, 1 rind he acknowledges that he owes her Oh The defendant said he could prove that the young man had lived most extravagantly. The complainant said this accusation was as unfounded as any of the rest, though it served to chew in what manner h er interests had been sacrificed. The Lout) navoit ordered the defendant to find bail to answer for the assault. The defendant then put in bail, saying he was prepared not to submit to such a charge. BOW-STREET. Yesterday a pretty-looking young girl about eighteen accom panied by her father, came to apply to Sir It. Blasi zu, for a warrant against one of that numerous tribe who exist by prac tising upon the gullibility of silly young maidens, a nd ot h er persons credulous enough to believe that it mortal has the power of giving as insight into futurity. The charge made was, that the pretended fortuneteller had obtained five good gowns, a gown-piece, and 9s. lid. in money, from the applicant. It ap peared that on Thursday last, early in the morning, an elderly woman decently dressed, called at the father's house, and hav ing, no doubt, watched a proper opportunity, findin g t h e daughter, at ‘home alone, asked lice it she would like to have her fortune told, adding, that her (the fortune - teller w) reputa tion stood very hi g h her"hi- p ro fession„' and that she would be sure to tell he r " ever y dung perfectly true." The applicant at first *fused, but the old hag told her she had much better consent, for although she could not tell her precisely what would happen to her without first consulting the planets, yet she could read in her face that her lot would be a happy and a fortunate one. This well timed hint had its intended effect --the curiosity of the expectant fair one was toe powerfully excited for her to hesitate .any longer at its gratificat " ion, and she consented to " h ave h er nativity cast. " Taut, said the old woman, " you must give Me some meneYbYwa a y p o p f lica ea n r- t ear nest, I nev er d o any th i ng w i t h ou t an advance. ,, The more, or s al oiet l l t i he h t i n n on g ey she had, 9 8 . and offered it, b ut t h e mistress of future events was not to be satisfied with such a trifle. she turned u p h er nose at it, and said, she must have to hold by way of security fo r a f urt h er sum. A ft er some f ur th er conversation, the foolish girl agreed to give her h er ent i re stock o f gow ns, except that which she had on, and a new piece of very smart muslin, which she had lately purchased for a summer dress. With these and 9s. fid. ' the old woman l e f t t h e h ouse, promising to call again on the Sun• day mornin g , w i t h the result of her consultailon of the heavenly bodies. As may he supposed, she did not come, and the girl having acquainted her father with what she had done, he set about making inquiries after the old woman, and found that she slept on Saturday night in Wilmot's-row, Chelsea, about which neighbourhood she was very well known ; but in the morning site and a female companion absconded without no tice. Sir It. Bumf: • . eel the girl what sort Of a husband the' fortune-teller had isett her ? "44 ii ssi et,41 Nant, bit to Nea, said, " She' did not tell as to . , alltadkei .he came again." t. y, be a very silly girl to bc lieve in what such an old imposter chose to say. , • "'Yes, said the applicant, with great simplicity, curtsy ing, and hanging down her head. Sir It, BI ITN E said it would only he incurring useless ex pence fbr the applicant to take out a warrant and employ an officer, perhaps without succeeding in her object. He would therefore advise the flither to apply to Air. Flood, a Magistrate, ' at Chelsea, who would, no doubt, give instructions to the local constableS to be on the look-out for the offender. With this advice the father and daughter departed. The boy Thomas Williams, who was found in a half-starved and diseased state at the door of a tradesman in Bedford-street, as stated in our Paper of Saturday - hist, proves to be an impos tor,. as far as his story of the cause or his wretchedness goes.— ilis father and mother, a very decent couple, living in a court near - Fitzroy-square, attended yesterday morning, and stated, that the young urchin had run away at least 20 times, prefer ring half starvation and filth to the comforts which they were always willing to afford him. Sir R. Ittut.riE advised them to get him bound apprentice to sonic trade by the officers of the parish in which they lived, and they said they would endea , your to do so. M A It Y-LE-BONE OFFICE. Yesterday Dennis Newnham: and James Mirky, two ruf fianly looking Irishmen, were brought to this office from Mary lebone watch-house, in the custody of a strongbody of watchmen and officers, charged .with being concerned in a most desperate outrage and assault upon Thomas Shearman, an Irishman, who nearly lost his life through their inhuman violence. The office was crowded to excess, and during the examina tion the avenues leading thereto were rendered impassable. Thomas Shearman, the individual so dreadfully treated, was supported into the presence ,of Mr. RAWLINSON, with his head bound up, and his face covered with bruises. Ile was severely injured all over his person, and was in so debili tated a condition that he could scarcely give his evidence.— Being sworn, he stated that he lodged in the garret of the !loe, No. 10, Cannel-buildings, Orchard street, Manchester square. On Sunday evening last, he invited a few friend's to take tea with himself and wife, and while sitting in the room, the prisoners, with a strong party of their companions, all of a sudden rushed in upon them, armed with gallon cans (used. by publicans), pokers, sticks, choppers, and other weapons. He (witness) seemed to be the first object of their attack, and they commenced beating him in the most violent manner, with the canes, and sticks, &c., and the prisoner Hurley, seizing hold of one of the chairs in the roam, indiscriminately struck the females, who were obliged to escape out of the windows, in . order to save their lives, and he actually broke it to pieces by beating the witness and his party. Witness begged of them " for (pod's sake not to take his life ;" but the prisoners heat him more, and swore that they would have their revenge. They left him for dead on the floor, weltering in blood; and shortly after hurley and and Newnham returned, and renewed their vio lence with sticks.M r. Itnmvt.rNsOs: thought it a most strange and cowardly transaction, and asked what could lie the cause of the attack ? Witness saidit was caused in consequence of his not having joined them in a fight which took place. Mr. Raw LuesoN—Then I suppose you and the prisoners belong to different factions. Arc you a Newcastle man ? Witness—No, lam a Garry Owen man. lie explained that there was a fight between a Newcastle man and a Garry Owen, because he did not subscribe for the getting of it up, they bore him a grudge. Hannah Shearman, the wife of last witness, said she was in the room with her .friends when. the prisoners and several other men rushed into the room " like a troop of soldiers," 1 armed with gallon pewter pots, sticks, &c., and swore the 'bitterest oaths, saying they would have the b—y life of her husband. Hurley entered first, and asked whether he had any thing to say against the Newcastle men ? The whole of them then commenced an attack upon all in the room, and they were dreadfully injured. They struck her - husband over the head and body in a savage and brutal manner with the gallon 'pots.. &c. and she begged of them on her knees for mercy, and' to Save his life, but they attacked her also, and they did porquit the place until they thought her husband was dead. They then went into the buildings, hallooing that-" they had done for him." Mr. Itawr.rxsox asked whether she could identify the other persons accompanying. the prisoners ? She answered in the affirmative, and gave their names James Hurley and his brother, Denis Newnham (the prisoner), Char ley Gamin, Denis Barry, and Thady Evans. Mr. Itaseutxsasr.Can you identify any of them who had Choppers ? itness—Yes, Dennis Barry. He made a blow. at my hushand's head, which was warded off by a young woman in the room, whose arm was severely cut by the blow. Witness went for a surgeon, who attended, and her husband was in so dreadffil a state, that he ordered him to be taken to the Midde sex Hospital, where his. wounds were dressed. Margaret Heraight, a young woman, was in the room on Sunday evening when the prisoners made the attack; the pro secutor, Shearman, was about to leave the room to borrow some money to give to a sick friend in the hospital, when Hurley and Newnham rushed in ; Newnham struck Shearnian over the head with a gallon-pot, and Hurley also struck him over the head, and lie fell to the ground senseless. She saw Dennis Barry, with a carpenter's chopAier, with which lie made a desperate blow at Shearman'e head. Witnesa prevented the blow, and received a wound on her arm. • The force of the blow from the chopper broke the wall through. Shearman cried for mercy, but they did not heed him, and continued their barbarity. Mr. R AW LiNson—lf you had not prevented the blow, what would have been the consequence ? 'Witness.—Why, that Shearman would have certainly been murdered. Witness wits beaten violently by the party with sticks, and was considerably injured.. . Mr. Rawr.tiesoar eulogized her courage, which had saved the man's lire. Hannah Henright, an elderly woman, mother to last wit ness, was one of the party, and was covered with bruises of the severest kind, and bud her teeth knocked out by the prisoners' violence. _ V •••••••••rv• Cathering Fitzgerald and Eliza Fitzgerald were obliged to get out of the garret window to save themselves, and while standing on the parapet they attempted to push them into the street, being a height of four stories. Mr. RAwramsow felt extremely indignant at the conduct of the prisoners, which he pronounced disgraceful and inhu man. The case was more serious than they (the prisoners) seemed to think it, and might ultimately affect their lives; and in order that the other parties implicated in the affair, might be brought forwaid, he would remand them until a future day. He ordered warrants to be issued .against them. immediately. He thought it high time that such savage proceedings should be put a stop to ; and it was incumbent on the parish to ap point extra watchmen and constables to attend the above neigh bourhood.—The prisoners were accordinly remanded. ExEcuTiom. -- Thursday morning, Samuel Wood, who was convicted of the murder of his wife by striking her on the head with a hammer, was executed on Gallows green, Nottingham. On passing the end of Parliament-row, within sight of the house where he lately resided, and where the horrid deed was committed. .he sprung up in the cart, and pointed at the fatal spot. Wood immediately, and with ap parent firmness, addressed the multitude, warning them against drunkenness and bad company, as it was these causes that had brought hint to an untimely end. While the executioner was adjusting the rope round his neck, and tying it to the tree, Wood thrust the noose up with his hands, and said in an au dible voice, " I have Mr. to thank for this; but I for. give him, freely fingive him—farewell !" The executioner then drew the cap over his face, the cart was drawn away, and he was left suspended. He appeared to struggle a good deal. After hanging the usual time, the body was cut down, and con veyed to the General Hospital for dissection. Three orphan children are left —namely, a boy and two girls. Wood was brought up to a frame-work knitter, but had latterly followed the occupationtrof a dyer and bobbin and carriage-maker. FATAL PUGILISTIC ENCOUNTElL—Yesterdity evening an inquisition was taken at the Globe Tavern, Black well, on view of the body of Timothy Driscoll, an Irishman, who was killed on Friday kst, in a pugilistic engagement with one of his countrymen. The battle took place in the Eel-pie house Filds, Limehouse, and the witnesses declared that it was " a fair fight." The Coroner in summing up, ob serve d gwltoelorli but the Jury sho u ld reco l- had acted as se c o n d s wereed upon them in th e li g h t o f that the crime, in his opinion, did net amount to m ur d er . pl I ea t er r t i a te s hein o i st n c l e a y r ic t ul l it i i a n t oi sf o , t t'ahnmedens the partiesl a law u h principals. The Jury , after a short consideration, returned a 1 Ihe, o c Bryant, and Donovan, wh o acte d se seconds. None of them are in cu s to d y but Burke. - r verdict is c ou o! , _____..........._ SUDDEN DEATH.--On Saturday afternoon died m Auw n, Esq. an eminent woollen-draper of Cornhilli and one of the Common Council of the Ward. He had had no prev i ou s illness, and was transacting business in the course of the morning, apparently in good heal th , PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. Nf lit, HOUSE OFcIIIMONS.—(THIS DAY). NO CES 0 OTIONS. 1. The Lord Advocate o 4cotla, Select Committee, to in quire i fw the Stag oP-Rhsons t TCotland, 4nd the means PsovitiedNl‘Aitbenting\PrisoidA cdnfingcNitgrein under Criminal Warrants. i. Sir John Newport—State of the First Fruit Fund (Ireland). with a view to render it more effectual. ' 3. Mr. Hume—Copies of Minutes of Council at Trinidad, and Papers respecting liberated Africans.. 4 3lr. Hume—Copies of Instructions from the Colonial Office . .to the ConaniiSSioners sent to the West Indies, the. Cape, and - Sierra Leone. 5. Mr. C;Grant—Statement of the object of his new Bill re garding an amended scale of Silk Duties. 6..11r. Hume—Detailed Account of the Expenses regarding Northern Lighthouses, &c. 7. Mr. Hume—Copies of Regulations of Steam-boats, kr. ORDERS OF TIDE DAY. I. Bank Charter Amendment Bill—Committee. 2. Silk Duties Bill=-Second rending. 3. Supply—Report. _ 4. Offences at Sea Bill-:COmmittee. 5. Prison I,aws (Ireland) Bill-=Report. 6. Writs of Mandamus (Ireland) Bill—Report. 7. hands and Tenements (Ireland) Bill_Report. 8. Church Rates (Ireland) Bill—Committee. 9. Assault and Battery (Scotland) Bill—Third reading. 10. Nabob of Arcot's Debt Bill—Second reading. • __.—....5........ PRICE or wrocics TillS 0 ‘lr AT ONE 0.0.0C1i. Bdok Stock 3 per Cent. Bed. shut New Ditto: ................. --• 3 per Cent.. Cons 77 Ex. Bills 101101. 2d.... I spin. 31 per Cent. Ditto Red. 4 per Cent. New 9 1 .6 Ditto Advertised ............ Bank bon g Ann. .. ..... shut Bank for Acct. ............... --- India stock shu t In dia for Acct. ........... Ditto Bonds, 4 p.p. 3 4 pm. I Cons. for Acct . ..:. ....•.•• ....... 77iii South Sea Stock PRICES OF FORCIGN Fl Austrian this, spercent.... Brazilian this Buenos Ayres Ns Milian lids, f; per ct. 5O Colombian this 5Ol Do. 1624 .... 49 494 Danish, 3 per con ss{ 5 (ireek Bels Do. 1826 Guatimala 51 eximin Ms. 5 p. Do. 1825, f p.c. ... 6511 5 'NOS AT ONE OICLOCK• Neapolitan, 182.1 ............ Peruvian ... , ..... 31. 1 Portuguese lionds ....... Prits%ian, 5 per cent. ...... Ditto New .................... Russian, New, 51. c ......... Spanish 1821, p. c. 10ii --- 11123 ............... 7 6 French !tones, 5 p. c. —t. ------ Exchange ... c. -- 3 p. c. ......... Exchange ... PRICES OF SHAKES AT ONE O'CLOCK• Per Share. Anglo-Mexican Mining Company .....................1 Anglo-Ciiilian Mining Company ......................... . Tlalpuxalnia Mining Company ...... New United Mexican Alining Company ............... I Australian Company Great Westminster Dairy Company .................... 1 Mexican Company ........................................ ... Metropolitan Alderney Dairy Company ............. II PRICF. OF 1111811 STOCKS, MARCH 18. Gov. Deb. 3) per cent. —9 2 01 Bank Stock sllti.iiplinagtriCekoninprirya.n..c.e. ................ 4 per cent. New do. 951 National ditto ............... ..... Gov. Stork, 31i.ier ct.... 84;j! Hibernian Bank ............ .... Consols 3 percent. 796 Fish Shares ............•• . .... Royal Canal Stock _. G rand Canal Stock PIP , Ditto Loan, 4 per cent. ... New Brighto n ......... .. . Ditto Ditto, ti .per cent. ... I Hibernian Gas CompAnY rontac i N AnuivEn. V i ts 0 0 Gottenburgh France Buenos Ayres Inuit wA Tim AT i.oNt)()Pi nitcnot: Tti-51 -031 ., 1° ";* Nlorning, 37 minutes alter 0.1 Evening, A#"" *** The Puplid are respectfully Wormed, that hands, an d co ' 'l'2lE Sum has passed into other times to be published, a s usual, at N o ' 111' S'iraniL iil If 1 ti_J .1 1. • LON DON, TUESDAY EVEIVEVG, MARC'! 18'261 TILE KING. We have much satisfaction in announcing, that ills 111:u EsTY'S convalescence is considered 1© be so decidedly established, as to re nder th e publication of any further Bullethis annecessrl. The death of the late King of Polt'math The I , I A bring to a speedy decision that point 11"'"" 2 a t the time of the settlement of the Crown I) Brazil on the eldest son of JOHN VI., Was deem e ' ; of too much importance to admit of instanter. rangement ; we mean who is to be the surceeenri of the deceased Monarch, and becom e Ring n't, PottTuom,. The situation of the Royal Faintly 13f his late Most Faithful Majesty, is such as -to ren der this question extremely difficult, as the cares a the Brazilian Government must effectually eicin° seas the Emperor Don Pena() from the Portog Throne; and the character and conduct of b ig brother Don MIGUEL, and his connection with the rs '. disobedient QUEEN, must raise a host o most insuperable objections aga i ns t him. l i n this dilemma a Regency h as been formed, Willi the Princess ISABELLA MARIA at its head, under the sanction o f the Cabinets or Englan d 4/14 11 ' ra " cP • This Regency will,. for a time a t least) moat continue to administer the gov ernment, but it d shortly ex-necessitate expire, an d g ive place to el! more regular government of an established Sov es* reign. Who this Sovereign is to be, is the gees, (ion at issue, and one which is at present invoivn ad in no small doubt and obscurity. Brazil' OW/ empire surrounded on every sid e by litelw ro °I requires a never.ceasing v i g ilance, the n'°l. especially as it i s at this moment d gaged in warfare with the United Provinces Rio de la Plata, and the object of whi ch t° the ° 10 regain possession of the Banda Oriente., nr rto' - fertile and the richest Province in that qua ortan ce the globe, and therefore of paramount imP d i t to the Brazilian. Empire. Thus circuMst4nc" •